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Advance train tickets from Madrid to Seville?

We will arrive Madrid airport 7:45 on a Friday morning from USA. At least we're supposed to (fingers crossed, no delays!). I'm wondering if we need to worry about trains being sold out to go to Seville and if we need to purchase tickets ahead of time, or if there is high availability and we can buy them when we get there. I know we lose the opportunity of discounted pricing, but that seems to be a wash-out if you can't make the train that you bought tickets for or if you have to sit and wait for a later train if you are conservative with your time allowance when pre-buying tickets. I'd rather just pay a little more and be able to leave on the earliest train that we can but I don't want to risk not being able to get tickets, either.

Chani, if you read this, I read your helpful article about buying tickets that you suggested in my last post, but it didn't seem to address whether or not trains would be sold out, just the discounted tickets being sold out.

Help! :)

Posted by
5294 posts

Julie,

You can buy your train tickets at the airport when you arrive. There are several trains running this route throughout the day, so there's no need to worry about them being sold out.

When you buy your AVE tickets, you get the Cercanias ticket ( commuter train from airport to Atocha Station) for free.

Enjoy your trip!

Posted by
15788 posts

There's a Renfe ticket office in the airport. You have to take the Cercanias (suburban) train to Atocha, then the AVE to Seville. The Cercanias ticket is free with the Sevilla ticket. The agent will sell you tickets for the next train that you can get to from Barajas.

I just looked at the schedule for tomorrow (Monday morning) and some of the trains are sold out. There are lots of trains, so chances are you won't have a problem. At worst, you'll have an extra hour to kill at Atocha, lots of shops and cafes in the station and an atrium garden that's very pretty too.

Posted by
255 posts

For an 8:15am arrival on a Thursday from the states at MAD what would a good train departure time from Atocha be?

Posted by
16895 posts

Ann, since that's hard to predict very precisely, and since tickets purchased in advance are lost if you miss the train due to any delay, I suggest making the same plan that Julie is - to buy tickets in the station.

Atocha station's atrium is unusual, especially for its turtle population.

Posted by
23626 posts

If over 62 you can buy a senior discount card at the airport ticket office.

Posted by
255 posts

Where is the turtle population in Atocha? I just discovered all the plants but didn't see any turtles.
I have a friend coming in from the states and we are trying to coordinate a train to Cordoba/Seville.
I think the 10:00AM might be too early for her to catch so am thinking the 12pm would be safer.